John thinks he has had several alcoholic drinks, but in reality he was given a placebo. Which of the following is likely to be his response during social interactions?

A) He will act as he usually does because he has had no alcohol.
B) He will act more restrained because he will have a compensatory response from the placebo.
C) He will act as if he had consumed alcohol because his expectations about drinking may also alter his behavior.
D) He will be angry because he can feel that he was tricked.

John's behavior is likely to be influenced by his expectations about drinking, so it is likely that he will act as if he had consumed alcohol even though he was given a placebo. It is well established that placebo effects can have powerful effects on behavior, and this is particularly true when it comes to drug effects like alcohol. Participants in placebo-controlled trials often report experiencing drug effects even when they have been given a placebo, and this is thought to be due to their expectations and beliefs about the drug's effects. In John's case, his expectation of feeling the effects of alcohol is likely to lead him to act as if he had consumed alcohol.